The promise of bullets and blades combining for the first Red Steel gave the Wii launch a frisson of gory excitement. Sadly, the poor correlation between the player's arm and on-screen sword left everyone disappointed.

The sequel's swordplay is made much more accurate by the MotionPlus add-on – a hefty swing is required to take down brawny opponents. It's not quite 1:1 matching, but that feels like a gameplay decision – I certainly haven't got the hand eye co-ordination actually to block bullets with a sword.

The use of cel-shaded graphics is also a great improvement; modern LA abandoned in favour of a highly stylised, futuristic, wild west-meets-far east desert. Going for style over realism has really paid off. As the mysterious Swordsman takes on an army of goons from the tattooed Jackal gang, the combat is pulled off with aplomb and it makes for an exhilarating if undemanding experience.